Matias: UNC on top with three visits left

Wes Mitchell

12/15/2010

Union City (N.J.) three-star prospect Josue Matias is rated the No. 89 offensive tackle in the country by Scout.com, but the 6-foot-5.5, 290-pounder has accumulated an offer list that makes him one of the most sought-after offensive tackles in the country. Matias has already taken two official visits and has three planned before he'll make a decision.

UNC has held a lead over the other three contenders since his official there the last weekend of October.

"Right now I think it's still UNC, but that could always change."

"I think it's a great place where anybody can live I think," Matias said of the visit. "Good football program with some big things in the future. So, good stuff."

He says that right now UNC has many of the things he is looking for.

"I have a good relationship with the o-line coach (Sam Pittman). They're also have a good o-line condition -- they have some top o-linemen right now. It's a place you can go compete. They're some good people out there."

Matias will take his official to FSU this weekend.

"They have a good tradition of offensive linemen, a great winning program -- they're coming back now. And it's in Florida -- great weather."

He is being recruited to the Seminoles by offensive coordinator/tight ends coach James Coley.

"Right now it's pretty good," Matias says of their relationship. "He's also Hispanic. It's a good one."

FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher will visit Matias in January.

South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier visited Matias Tuesday.

"It was a good visit," Matias said.

"At first I didn't know that he won so many games, but now that I know that he did, it's great."

Matias is being recruited to South Carolina by quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus.

"He seems like a cool coach. He's straight-up also."

He will take his official to Columbia the weekend of Jan. 14.

"One of my coaches (Carlos Perez) played for (Spurrier). They also have a good program. They said they have a big need for lineman so that's another thing that interests me."

Matias will take his final official to Rutgers the weekend of Jan. 21.
"Also a good program," he said of Rutgers. "They're struggling right now but I think that can change."

Then comes the hard part.

Matias, who has been making T-charts with pros and cons of each school to help himself decide, says he doesn't know how the process will unfold after his visits are complete.

"I don't even know as far as a date. That's the thing I don't know. I don't know if it's going to be Signing Day or if I'm just going to say [when I'm ready]. I'm kind of confused right now.

"It's been a roller coaster ride."

He does know what to look for in a program.

"I want to go to a winning program first of all. education [is important] also. And then the people showing me the program."
With UNC on top, each of his other potential suitors will look to unseat the Tar Heels.

"I don't even know myself," Matias said, asked what it would take for another program to catch them. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I think it's a lead that could always change. I don't go by [saying] it's big or small lead, I just think it's just a lead."